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Updates to CEBA and CERB

Nicole Barnett • Apr 26, 2020

For Businesses: CEBA Update

Good news! At his press conference this morning, the Prime Minister announced an expansion of the $40,000 CEBA loan program. 

Originally, the program required businesses to have paid 2019 wages of between $50,000 and $1,000,000. The new requirement is for 2019 wages of $20,000 to $1,500,000.  

This is a very recent change, so it may take a bit of time for the banks to update their application forms, but be sure to contact your banker for more information. You will still need to provide a copy of the 2019 T4 summary proving that you meet the wage requirements. 

There was no change in the eligibility requirements to open the program to non-wage paying business. Dividends still do not qualify.

For Businesses: Commercial Rent Assistance

There are absolutely no details available yet, but the PM also announced the federal government is working with the provinces and territories to develop a program to help businesses cover rent payments for April, May and June. More info to come.

For Individuals: CERB Eligibility Changes

Yesterday, the $2,000/month CERB program was expanded to include new eligibility requirements.

People in the following circumstances are now eligible:
  • Working part-time or reduced hours and earning $1,000 or less per month
  • Seasonal workers who have exhausted their regular EI benefit and their seasonal job is not available because of Covid-19
  • Workers who have exhausted their regular EI benefits and who are not able to find a job due to Covid-19

For Individuals: Essential Worker Wage Top-up

The federal government also announced that they will be working with the provinces to provide temporary wage top-ups to low income essential workers. There are no details yet on how the program will work in Alberta.
By Nicole Barnett 26 Apr, 2020
The application portal for the CERB $2,000/month funding is available starting today through CRA My Account. Use the following schedule to apply: April 6th - Birth months of January, February and March April 7th - Birth months of April, May and June April 8th - Birth months of July, August and September April 9th - Birth months of October, November and December Open for anyone after those dates Where to apply: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application.html Two important points: CRA has clarified that business owners who are compensated through dividends rather than wages are eligible for the CERB if their 2019 income is $5,000 or more. CERB vs EI If you have applied for EI since March 15th, your application will automatically be transferred to the CERB process, so there is no need to apply for CERB . At the end of the 4 month CERB program, you could resume receiving EI if eligible and the CERB payments will not use up any of the EI-eligible weeks. For anyone who applied to EI prior to March 15th and received benefits, you will stay in the EI program and continue receiving the EI payments. A good summary here: https://globalnews.ca/news/6770564/coronavirus-ei-beneficiaries-federal-emergency-benefit/ More answers to common questions are available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application/questions.html
By Nicole Barnett 26 Apr, 2020
Details are here: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/campaigns/covid-19-update/frequently-asked-questions-wage-subsidy-small-businesses.html Highlights: A 10% wage subsidy is available for any wages paid between March 18th and June 20th, to a maximum of $1,375 per employee and $25,000 per employer To calculate: If you have 5 employees earning monthly salaries of $4,100 for a total monthly payroll of $20,500, the subsidy would be 10% of $20,500, or $2,050. To claim the subsidy: Reduce your payroll remittances by the amount of the calculated subsidy in the first remittance period that includes wages paid between March 18th and June 20th. So, for a regular remitter, the remittances due April 15 will be reduced by the amount of the subsidy. The subsidy does not need to be used to reduce remittances immediately. You can pay full remittances now and then request the calculated subsidy be paid out to you at the end of the year or applied to next year's remittances. To report the subsidy: CRA has not yet released info on how to report the subsidy calculation or amount. This is expected in the near future. The subsidy will be considered taxable income to your business in the year it is received. The team at Insight LLP is committed to helping our business clients access and understand the latest information on the ever-changing Covid-19 situation. Please contact us directly with any questions specific to your business needs at 403-524-4878 or via email.The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.
By Nicole Barnett 26 Apr, 2020
Private sector employers will have immediate financial relief by deferring WCB premiums until early 2021, effectively for one year. Employers who have already paid their WCB premium payment for 2020 are eligible for a rebate or credit. For small and medium businesses, the government will cover 50 per cent of the premium when it is due. Large employers will also receive a break by having their 2020 WCB premium payments deferred until 2021, at which time their premiums will be due. Info from: https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=699045A66118C-FA03-F4F5-959455E3316B8564
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